Would you mod a signature model bass?

[spaz21387]

I stole the neck off a geddy lee jazz i had just laying around...

 

[No Malarky]

Outside of strings, No mods for me.

I have a Geddy Lee Signature bass from 1998 (first year of production - "Limited Edition" on the plate) after researching the serial number and countless emails, I found it is from the first batch of 100 to America from Japan (documentation from Fender of Japan on file). The only thing I have changed are the strings to Roto 66's.

I don't know what if any difference this could make regarding value (collector or otherwise) in say..another 10 to 20 years, and I don't much care, but I figure Signature instruments are made the way they are for a reason.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[crucislancer]

I'll mod if the bass in question needs it, though at the moment I don't need to. I have two sig models, a MIM Geddy Lee Jazz and a Nate Mendel Precision. Both are stock, except the NM Precision has a Hipshot D-tuner, which I plan to get for the GL Jazz once funds are available. Other than that, I like those basses the way they are. I get some seriously sweet tone out of both basses, and I like the way they look.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

That the 'arris, is it? Assuming it is, I'd say your pick guard replacement enhances the look of the bass exponentially from the mirrored original,
which I found gaudy (albeit admittedly unique). The rest of this bass -- BOOM!

View attachment 717371

It is one and I couldn't do the 1/2 pound chrome one, not my deal. 5 ply b/w/b/w/b with black pg screws for me. Love the bass though.

 

[Pre-Road Blues]

I don't ever plan on doing it but have thought it would be cool to swap necks on a Roger Waters and a Duff McKagan. You'd end up with a completely black P bass that I'd be tempted to swap the 1/4 pounders for a Darkstar pup, would take a little routing to accomplish. That would leave the Duff body with a chunky maple neck and brass nut so I'd want to change the bridge to brass to match the nut then get chrome knobs to match the tuners. If I ever get enough extra money to throw away I might just do it, lol. it'd be a Duff Waters and a Roger Mckagan.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yes - it's a tool. But keep the original parts if you sell.

 

[LowNloud1]

If you bought it new, then you already paid a premium for the signature. Any mod drops it value to something less than it's true resale value. If I wanted to mod signature bass pups, I'd buy a less expensive but similar version and mod it. If you bought it used, mod away but be ethical and disclose all your mods if you sell it.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

She's a beaut! I know it has been discussed at length, but how do you feel about the epoxy job at this late date - do you feel it improved sonics/preserved board?


As to the OP's question, one MANDATORY mod I would make would be to a Sting signature bass, namely to scratch his name off. Sting was enemy to too many of my 'teams'
(The Ramones, Paul Weller) to ever sport his colors.

I bought it finished, so I don't even know how the board held up to rounds. I do prefer the epoxy tone but there are times I wish it had the "mwah" of real wood. My board has next to no wear on it, it has held up extremely well. I would say it has held up better than my ebony board. I did more damage to it when I scuffed it down to a matte finish. Which is good because whoever did the job only did a very thin application of epoxy.

 

[Mosstone]

I don't own, or have ever owned a signature bass (or guitar). If I ever own any kind of signature instrument in the future, it will most likely be because I stumbled across one I liked and got a good deal on it. Not because I went out and deliberately wanted one. Signature guitars - for the most part - just capitalize on fan boy enthusiasm. Just about every signature guitar or bass I've ever played have been quality instruments, but they all seem to be pretty ordinary, IMO. I'm a HUGE, stooped Rush fan, but I never fell for the Geddy Lee Jazz. The examples I played (back when they were made in Japan) were nice basses, for sure, but there wasn't anything exceptional about any one of them. Nothing that knocked my socks off... Not even the thin neck. Of course it looks cool as hell, so I eventually ended up building a clone from parts... But, that's another story.

To answer the OP's question; If I ended up owning a signature instrument, you bet I'm gonna mod it! But I'll save the original parts for resale. I do that with any guitar/bass I buy. I've modded almost every bass and guitar I've ever owned. Including a brand new Rickenbacker 4003 (NOT because I WANTED to... It HAD to be done). But when I sell it, I sell it stock. Selling a guitar with upgrades doesn't get you a better selling price, anyway and I can use the pickups, hardware or whatever on another project.

 

[reddesert]

I would definitely mod the artist's signature if I felt their handwriting was sloppy.

 

[Bill Thompson]

Yes I would, if it was a copy and some parts were not up to spec. This is an unauthorized copy of Billy Sheehan's 'wife' Fender. It was made by Fernandes, for sale in Japan. When I got it, it was good, but after Schaller tuners, a HipShot 'D' tuner, DiMarzio Model One and Model P pickups, and a special wiring that makes the bass go to '11', it was better. Oh, and getting Billy to autograph it didn't hurt, either. Cheers. ;^D.

 

[friaraustin]

I'd mod any bass if it wasn't where I want it to be, as long as I wasn't thinking about selling it.

 

[Ethan117]

I look at signature models as a "package deal" on desirable features that an artists uses on their instruments of choice. I'm not trying to be my favorite artist, but I DEFINITELY would like the feature set their instrument sports. If it's missing a thing or two, then yeah, I'm going to turn it into the instrument I'm going to play.

 

[Hevy T]

My black Geddy is getting a black pg and a series/parallel switch

 

[bassstrangler]

I switched the pickguard on my MIM Geddy Lee. I thought red Pearloid looks better than black. Other than that no. I bought because yeah I'm a fanboy. If I had the black instead of the 3tsb I would have switched the guard for a white pearloid. Which it should come with anyway.

 

[GazzBass]

I modded my Tony Franklin fretless. I got rid of the silly D tuner, changed the bridge and took off the signature neck plate. I had no idea who Tony Franklin was when I bought it. I just liked the bass. Its the only decent fretless P bass fender make at the moment.

 

[lidesnowi]

I modify everything unless I have designed and built it myself!

 

[Feral Feline]

To hell with the signature, whatever you do PRESERVE THE PATINA! You can't fake that sheepdip!

Nahhh, just kidding. Refinish it in truck liner if you want after routing it for multiple mudbuckers... whatever creative path you wanna take.

 

[danosix]

I have my eyes on a used Fender Roger Waters P bass. It is completely fine and playable from a musical standpoint; the electronics are good, the neck is straight and all that. Unfortunately, it's not in the best cosmetic shape; the pick guard is scratched up and slightly warped (hot car?), there's a few rough spots where the neck could use a little sanding, the black hardware isn't wholly black anymore...the kind of things that happen in the life of a working but slightly neglected instrument. I was thinking of possibly buying it and customizing its looks since it needs a bit of work anyway, especially since I would love to have that QP pickup and old school 1.75" neck. A new black tort pickguard, chrome knobs and Gotoh bridge to match the tuners...but wait! This is a signature model! How dare a casual player like me change that which carries the name of a musical demigod? Eh, screw it; I'll probably buy and work on it anyhow. But it occurred to me that this could make for a good discussion here, so here's the poll. Enjoy.

As to the point of your original post - MOD AWAY - that's how old Roger got his bass to be his "signature" bass.
The only time I'd advise against modding is if it is a valuable vintage model of youo bought it to use in a tribute band - then (at least cosmetically) you'd want it to remain "authentic".

 

[danosix]

I have my eyes on a used Fender Roger Waters P bass. It is completely fine and playable from a musical standpoint; the electronics are good, the neck is straight and all that. Unfortunately, it's not in the best cosmetic shape; the pick guard is scratched up and slightly warped (hot car?), there's a few rough spots where the neck could use a little sanding, the black hardware isn't wholly black anymore...the kind of things that happen in the life of a working but slightly neglected instrument. I was thinking of possibly buying it and customizing its looks since it needs a bit of work anyway, especially since I would love to have that QP pickup and old school 1.75" neck. A new black tort pickguard, chrome knobs and Gotoh bridge to match the tuners...but wait! This is a signature model! How dare a casual player like me change that which carries the name of a musical demigod? Eh, screw it; I'll probably buy and work on it anyhow. But it occurred to me that this could make for a good discussion here, so here's the poll. Enjoy.

Also - while I'm a HUGE fan of Floyd and love Roger's playing and tone, let's be honest he's only a "good" player in the pantheon of legendary bass players.
Put another way - Roger figured he knew enough about bass design to modify Leo's bass - surely you know enough to modify Roger's.